ICC unseals arrest warrants for 4 Taliban leaders wanted on gender persecution charges

The International Criminal Court on Monday unsealed arrest warrants against four senior Taliban leaders, accusing them of the crime against humanity of gender persecution against women, girls and members of the LGBTQ community in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

The court said in a statement that warrants were issued in July and September last year for the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, and the head of Afghanistan’s Supreme Court, Abdul Hakim Haqqani.

Also wanted are Education Minister Habibullah Agha and Minister of Higher Education Neda Mohammad Nadim.

The existence of the warrants against Akhundzada and Haqqani was revealed last year but the warrants remained sealed.